Balvenie 14YO Caribbean Cask (honey and spice dessert whisky par excellence)Isle of Jura 16 Year Old (satiny smooth and a little to the sweet side for an island malt)Ledaig 10 Year Old (a lemon-saturated salt'n'smoke whisky that's superbly appetizing

July 1st being Canada Day, I started off with Glen Breton 10 Year Old before transitioning to pours of Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask, Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams, Bowmore 12 Year Old, Ledaig 10 Year Old & Lagavulin 16 Year Old.

Pretty new to the world of single malts, but falling in love head over heels and quicker than you can say bunnahabhain!

Last night it was Highland Park 12 y/o again- this is the whisky that started it all for me...toffee-kissed lips, vanilla-fruit-and-spice covered tongue and a lovely, lovely light smokey aftertaste as it warms my throat.

Anyone here tried the 2001 vintage HP? How does it compare to the 12 y/o?

Macallan Amber last night. I purchased this bottle out of pure curiosity, and have found the contents beautifully balanced if decidedly lacking in the 'substance factor' I would expect from a Sherry-casked Macallan. Given that this one goes for approximately the same asking price as the discontinued 12-year old, I'm underwhelmed.

To my taste buds, the new Gold Label Reserve (no age statement) seems:

1. A tad less precisely delineated in its flavour delivery than the previous Gold Label 18 Year Old (the last bottle of which I sampled a year or two ago).2. Very slightly smokier.3. A little more texturally rich.

The newer bottling is enjoyable, to be sure. However, for me, it lacks the clearly conveyed complexity of the best issue(s) of Clynelish (which apparently still lies at the core of this blend) - I'm thinking here of a 1972 Rare Malts Selection in particular - and harkens more toward the standard 14-year old Diageo version... Creamier and less overtly coastal, especially. The grain component is also smoother (some might say "duller"). I feel the caramelization adjustment may have been increased marginally to create a whisky that will readily appeal to less seasoned Scotch drinkers.

In contrast, the Gold Label 18 Year Old (since replaced with the far pricier 18-year old Platinum release) displayed a more layered characteristic where various delicate flavours kept appearing sequentially from palate entry through to finish.

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